Christian Ethos

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. … It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1 Corinthians 13:4,7

As school Chaplain, I feel that chapel lies at the heart of our community. Students and teachers alike tell me they appreciate the engaging and accepting atmosphere of our daily worship. Chapel is a place of faith where all can gather in peace to find inspiration. It is a time to centre oneself at the start of a productive day. Here we promote healthy relationships and honest communication, the firm foundation of a strong, united, diverse and giving community.

We focus on the Christian values that undergird our school; values such as love, joy, peace, hope, patience, and self-control. Chapel along with religious education strengthen one’s faith and contributes to one’s character. And, a constant source of encouragement is the degree to which our values pervade the school for the remainder of the day as teachers and students endeavour to practice what is preached.

Our Chapel and History

At the heart of the HTS community is Chapel. The purpose of Chapel at HTS is to uplift hearts, not to close minds. It allows us to come together in a "faith place" with friends and classmates. A powerful experience for our students. It is geared to a youthful audience, thought-provoking rather than preachy, allowing young minds to disengage from the demands of busy schedules, to contemplate topics such as forgiveness and respect for self and others, and ponder issues that have meaning in their daily lives. We share our thoughts about character and values, celebrate milestone, recognize accomplishments, recount experiences, offer encouragement and pause to remember and reflect.

We also take care to ensure that our Anglican approach develops the faith of all Christians while also supporting the spiritual growth of our many Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist students. The values we uphold are universal:

Established in 1981 by members of the Holy Trinity Church in Thornhill, and based on the principles and morals of the Anglican Church, HTS is one of the few independent schools to have a full-time chaplain, responsible for all aspects of religious instruction and observance.

Perhaps not surprisingly for a school that was founded in a church basement, we believe that religion still has a place in the curriculum. To us, it's a crucial part of a well-rounded education. And while we continue to honour the vision of the school founders and uphold the principles they set forth, HTS welcomes members of all faiths and celebrates a shared commitment to the ideals we all hold in common.

Religious Instruction in The Schools

Lower School

In Lower School, HTS students are taught the basics of the Christian faith through the study of Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments: Creation; the Fall; the Flood; Tower of Babel; Abraham, Sarah and descendents; Moses and the Exodus; the Kings of Israel; the Prophets and the Exile; as well as the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus; the Pentecost; and the mission of apostles and disciples.

These stories are introduced in Primary School and then examined in greater depth in the Junior School. The program encourages students to reflect upon the values expressed in the stories, such as faith, honesty, love, patience, courage and effort.

Teaching techniques include storytelling, drama, discussion, review games and deskwork. Junior School students also read from the Bible, and they begin to learn about world religions.

Middle School

The Religious Knowledge program in Middle School offers an introduction to the religions of the world. Students study these faith traditions to gain an understanding of both the specific religions themselves and the dynamics of religion in general.

Students are encouraged to cultivate an appreciation for their own religious heritage, as well as for the religious diversity represented in the Canadian mosaic today.

In the first year of a two-year cycle, we study Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. In the second year we study Hinduism, the life of Jesus, First Nations Spirituality and Judaism.

Teaching methods include lectures, discussion, on-line research and guest speakers. In addition, there is a field trip to one of the following places of worship: an Islamic mosque, a Hindu temple, a Buddhist temple, a Christian church or a Jewish synagogue.

Hinduism

The Life of Jesus

First Nations’ Spirituality

Judaism

Senior School

World Religions (taught in Grade 11) introduces students to the various expressions and responses to humanity’s encounter with mystery in our quest for life’s meaning.

The course explores the life wisdom found in the responses of the major faith traditions to the compelling questions concerning the spiritual dimension of human experience, self-understanding, and the role of the individual within the family.

Its purpose is to familiarize students with the language of religious discourse, to help to break down prejudices and misconceptions about other religious traditions and, at the same time, strengthen and affirm the students’ own search for answers to life’s meaning. The course proceeds chronologically, tracing religion’s evolution from polytheism to monotheism, and in each unit one major issue confronting that faith is examined. Reflecting the school’s origins, the Christian spectrum is given a detailed analysis.